Why I Bought My Stuff Back, Stopped Trying to be Gary Vee, and Learned to Love 26.2

When I first heard of the minimalist movement, I thought these people had to be a little crazy. Selling almost everything they owned, giving used items to charity, or living in a tiny house.

As I dug deeper I learned of the power of less, especially when it comes to possessions. I hastily started to gather up all my possessions that I hadn’t used and started listing them on eBay or Craigslist. I gave away countless possessions and items that I knew I would use in another season. Items that my parents bought me or possessions my brother had gotten me from a birthday. Almost all was gone.

For a while it felt really good. Then I needed a bike to ride with my friends in the summer and I didn’t have one or $1,500 for a new road bike. Then I needed a helmet to go snowboarding, and I didn’t have one.

I’ve realized that less truly is more, but YOU have to define your less. You have to define the items you want to keep and not go so extreme that you miss out on opportunities or fun outings with friends.

The first time I heard Gary Vee speak, I was taken back. I couldn’t handle his energy (maybe my friends think about me the same way), enthusiasm, or him cursing like a solider. But over time I’ve grown to really like listening to Gary’s insight on the market, entrepreneurship, and life.

I’ve tried to be Gary Vee (Vaynerchuk) I’ve spent 18 hours a day working. Whether it was homework, on a small business, in meetings, for a volunteer organization, or the other tasks and to-do’s that come into my inbox. It wasn’t for me. Yes, I could and can do it for a day or two, but I physically, mentally and emotionally cannot work like Gary does. It truly is as he says, “In his DNA,” to hustle and work like he does. I would go days trying to do what Gary does, and each time I would fall flat on my face at the end and not be sure of what just happened. I would much rather spend time with friends, play basketball, go for a run, or read a good book.

Figure out your idea of work. How do YOU intertwine your personal life and work? What are you willing to sacrifice to work more? Remember, our lives are a marathon, not a sprint.

62.2 miles later I was finished. I had just finished my first 100K race. I needed a burger. I’d spent the last six months completing ridiculous weekly workouts in preparation for this race. I was truly in the best shape of my life during those six months. I wasn’t eating meat. I was consuming almost no alcohol and I was sleeping eight hours a night. I had a resting heart rate of 36 beats per minute. I felt incredible. And then I didn’t. As the mileage continued to move up and up, 40 miles, 50 miles, 70 miles, my body started to feel the effects. I had aches and pains everywhere. Somedays, my knees hurt so bad I couldn’t walk from my bed to the bathroom. I’m not saying I will never run another ultra-marathon, but my body cannot take the sustained beating it took during those six months.

I learned that I need to eat some other types of proteins besides greens, beans, and grains. I also try and keep my weekly mileage between 20–30 miles. This allows me to lift some weights, and also play basketball a few days a week. These activities are now a part of my weekly workout routine and I wouldn’t change it for another 10 or 15 miles. I’m also learning to love being a part of half-marathons and marathons, especially when my dad and I run together.